Press Release

The latest research on farm scale, economically viable green energy solutions will be revealed at FPPC's Chesapeake Bay Watershed Region Technology Summit to be held in Annapolis, MD.

Annapolis, MD, March 20, 2011 --(PR.com)-- With U.S. energy policies in question as a result of the crisis in Japan and unrest in the Mideast, this week’s Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc. (FPPC) technology summit comes at a crucial time. The Technology Summit March 23-25 in Annapolis will focus on converting manure to energy as a means of solving an environmental challenge with excess nutrients.

“The unfortunate events in Japan demonstrate how environmental concerns must be a priority of any energy policy,” said Richard Salem, founder and CEO of Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc. “FPPC has long understood that, as it has always been our mission to uncover green energy solutions in agriculture. This year’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Summit could not come at a more crucial time, as we share what we have learned through our many pilot projects across the nation.”

FPPC is a leader in agricultural conservation and technology research. Since 2002 annual summits in Florida have given farmers, industry leaders, government officials, and researchers access to the latest information on renewable resource technology in agriculture.

This year’s regional summit in Annapolis will highlight the benefits of manure-to-energy conversion using thermo chemical processes in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These processes have generated much interest because of their potential to concentrate nutrients and still provide energy benefits. Participants will learn more about thermo chemical technology, its process variations, the byproducts, the implications of air emissions and economic feasibility of managing nutrients with these solution sets.

“FPPC also understands that any solution worthy of consideration needs to be economically feasible,” Salem said. “That is one reason why all of our research is farm scale. Processes and procedures must be tested under real-world conditions to determine if they do indeed work, and will be viable in the commercial market.”

Among those speaking at this year’s summit will be Ann Swanson, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and Leonard Jordan, Regional Assistant Chief of USDA-NRCS East Region. In addition, there will be sessions including a “Panel Discussion on Air Emissions,” “Preparing Byproducts for the Marketplace,” and “The Farm Owner’s Perspective on Technology.”

“This summit offers insight that will be of interest to conservationists, regulators, agri-business leaders, growers, researchers and technology providers,” Salem said. “All those who understand the need for technological advancement in nutrient reduction, renewable energy, and organic fertilizer at dairy and poultry farm operations will benefit.”

Registration remains open for the event, which begins with a welcome reception at 6:30pm March 23, and will be held at the Westin Hotel in Annapolis. Those who want to register can do so on the FPPC website (fppcinc.org), where a full conference schedule of speakers and events is available. Participants can also register by contacting Program Manager Aimee Walker Thomas at 800-829-8212.

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About FPPC: Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc., is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 by Richard Salem. Its mandate is to oversee the implementation and administration of a Pilot Project Program to demonstrate economically viable innovative technology. Farm scale systems are performance tested to assure reduction of the nutrient content of the waste stream from agricultural feed operations (AFOs) by 75 percent or greater. Funding for approved Pilot Projects comes from monies appropriated by Congress and overseen by the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More information can be found on the organization’s web site, fppcinc.org.